Explosive-engine starter.



O.H.FREEMAN.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27-, 1911. RENEWED JULY SL 1912.

1,036,213, Patented Aug. 20,1912.

311mm foz mxym @mw vi bmeoocp UNITED snares PATENT orrion CHARLES HENRY FREEMAN, or BLOOMINGTON, rumors EXPLOsIVE-ENGINE STARTER.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Application filed January 27, 1911, Serial No. 605,080. Renewed July 3, 1912. Serial No. 707,610.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. FREEMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engine Starters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to explosive engine starters, and belongs to that class of devices constructed and arranged to give to the shaft of an explosive engine a sufficient impulse to start the engine, and to permit the engine shaft to continue its revolution independently of the starter when once started. Associated with such starting devices are usually found parts having the function of guarding the device from the effect of backfire of the engine, and this invention is provided with parts for that purpose.

The object of this invention is the production of an explosive engine starter wherein the various parts have special construction and particular relation to each other in form and arrangement, whereby it is believed that great convenience and effectiveness are attained.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 represents the front of an automobile having this invention applied thereto. Fig 2 is a longitudinal section of this invention on an enlarged scale of"drawing. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the starter cylinder on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a section lengthwise, on an enlarged scale, of the 'igniter shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, looking directly toward the free end of the pawl, showing its engagement with the end of the hollow shaft provided with. the flange.

The same letter is employed to refer to the. same part throughout the specification and drawings.

The front axle frame A of a motor vehicle, has suitably secured to it a'curved cylinder comprising twin portions 13 and Z), usually bolted together. The connected portions of the cylinder are best shown in Fig. 3. The solid shaft C of this invention is arranged at the center. That is to say, on the imaginary median curved line within cylinder would be described by taking the axis of shaft C as a center. The piston D within the cylinder follows such a curved line. The piston D is placed at the end of in Figs. 1 and 2.

an elbow crank c, that comprises a relatively suitable insulated conductors with a battery f, and with the cylinder through the battery. A collar G on the outer end of shaft.

C retains the parts thereon. Immediately next the collar G, is a pulley g, and secured to the pulley is an operating cable H, that may be led to any distant point upon the vehicle.

The hub, or the circular portion of the elbow crank c that rides shaft C is designated by the letter J, and it carries a bearing j for a rock-shaft K, that extends over the grooved pulley g, and is provided at the end with a small arm is, which projects along the side of pulley 9 toward the center of the pulley, and in the path of lug L formed on the side of the pulley, as shown At the other end of the rock-shaft- K is secured the pawl M, constructed to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel or. The ratchet wheel is compelled to turn with the shaft C by reason of the engagement of the spline N 'of the ratchet wheel and the lengthwise groove 77. in the shaft. Next to the ratchet wheel, on the left in Fig. 2, is the flange P of the hollow shaft Q and it will be noted that the flange P on the side toward the ratchet wheel is cut away annularly, with the result that the flange and-ratchet wheel together form an annular groove 9, to be again mentioned. The flange P has a T shaped groove formed in its face next. the ratchet wheel, and marked R in Fig. 2. The groove'is engagedby correspondingly shaped headed pins 7', that pass into the side of the ratchet wheel. Thus, it is thought to be made out that while the flange may rotate with respect to the ratchet Wheel m, a sidewise movement of the flange will draw the ratchet wheel in the same direction. That is to say,if by the effect of some force, the flange P should be moved to the left from its position as illustrated lg. 2, the engagement of the headed pins and annular T-shaped slot would cause the ratchet wheel to be moved in the same direction and to the sameextent.

Vithin the hollow shaft Q, the solid shaft C is provided with an exteriorly threaded sleeve S, secured to the shaft C, and the threads have considerable inclination with respect to the axis of shaft C, as shown in Fig. 2. The hollow shaft Q is carried in bearing T forming apart of or supported by the axle frame A of the vehicle. The

interior of the hollow shaft Q is provided with threads engaging and corresponding with the threads of the sleeve S. The threads within the hollow shaft are marked a. That portion of the shaft C extending within the hollow shaft Q, toward the left in F i 2 is of less diameter than the remain er, and it is encircled within the hollow-shaft by the spring t, that bears in one direction against the sleeve S, and in he other direction against the hollow shaft.

In Fig. 2 are shown the ratchet teeth U at the end of the hollow shaft, adjacent to the ratchet teeth V, upon the end of the engine shaft o. Further considerin Fig. 2, it will be noted that between the ub J of the elbow crank c, and the ratchet wheel -m, there is a spiral spring WV, and, as indicated in Fig. '1, the outer end of spring W is attached to the elbow crank c, and the other or inner end of sprin W is secured.

to shaft C. The force of t e spring must be overcome to move the'piston from the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and, conse- (giently, the spring W will return the piston toward the osltion shown.

The remaining parts of this invention are advantageously described in connection with the explanation of its mode of opera tion.

Again considering Fig. 2, it will be un derstood that a flat spring to is secured upon the eriphery of the hub or circular center J o the elbow crank. The sprin to is relatively a strong spring, and its e ect is exerted upwardly against the nose Z that is secured to the rocloshaft K. That pressure acts to normally hold the movable end of pawl M toward ratchet wheel or and the flange P. But, let it be assumed that the cable H is drawn upon,-thus turnin pulley g and bringing in L in contact Wl l small arm is of rock-she t K. .As the rock-shaft rotate, the nose Z resses the flat spring 'tl) down upon the hu J until it can further, and the rock-shaft is held from turning. The movement of the rock-shaft described is however suflicient to raise the movable end of pawl lM high enough to free the annular lip O of the pawl from its previous engagement with the inclined edge portion of the flange P, marked 2. Tie iollow shaft is now no longer held in its go no position illustrated in Fig. 2, and the coil of shaft 0, within the hollow shaft acts to move the shaft lengthwise, and with it the ratchet wheel m by reason of the engagement of the T-groove and headed pins already described. The lengthwise movement of the hollow shaft Q brings into engagement the ratchet teeth U at the end of the shaft, and the corresponding teeth V at the end of the engine shaft o. It is desirable that the operator, before proceeding further, shall know that the teeth U andV are proper-l engaged, for the reason that injury mig t follow an explosion in the curved cylinder if those teeth were not fully engaged. It has been found that the operator can always determine whether or not the teeth U and V are completely in mesh, by the feel of the cable. That is to say, by alternately drawing upon the cable for a short distance, two or three times, the movement is communicated from the cable to pulley (I, and by lug L and arm is to rock-shaft K and, consequently, to the elbow crank 0. The spiral spring \V, being attached to the elbow crank and to solid shaft C, the movement stated rocks the shaft C and threaded sleeve S yieldingly, and settles or adjusts the teeth U and V to each other, and, when they become finally enga ed the operator readily detects the conition by the pull or feel of the cable H. 'Upon thus assuring himself that the ratchet teeth are fully engaged, the operator draws upon the cable and moves piston D in the curved cylinder a predetermined distance, usually, about one-half the len th of the curved cylinder, and takes in a c lane of ex lo'sive mixture through air valve and tie gusolene inlet 0 that 'be comes uncovered as the air valve rises, whereupon the cable is suddenly released. The release of the cable allows the flat spring w on hub J to throw nose Z upwardly, turning rock-shaft K and moving the free end of pawl M into engagement with. the teeth of ratchet wheel m. The spiral spring V throws the piston D back into the cylinder, compressing the charge mechanically to a suiiicient degree to force the piston disk 2 of igniter F outwardly against its adjusting spring 3, thus separating the contacts 4 and 5, of which there are usually several, and exploding the charge in the curved cylinder. B of nut ti and spring 3, the piston isk 2 is adjusted for that pressure found by trial to be exerted by the return or spiral spring W. In practice the disk piston is adjusted to move at a sightly lower pressure than the maximum of which the s ring W is capable, so as to make sure 0 the sparking. Ordinarily, the turning impulse given by the explosion in the curved cylinder to the migiue'shaft 1) is ample to start the engine means spring t encircling the reduced portion Y inithe proper way. Let it be assumed,

tion of the exploded charge will be ex hausted by way of the opening a which extends as shown in Fig. for about one-half the length of the curved cylinder, and'in which the elbow arm moves. The remainf with very little de that the ing portion of the exploded charge will pass the piston D by Way of duct 03, shown in Fig. 1, and the plston D will be returned ay into its original posi-.

tion, enabling a new charge to be taken in and the operation described repeated.

It has been stated that the coil spring 2? within the hollow shaftQ moves the hollow shaft to the left and engages the ratchet teeth U and V. It has also been explained threads 8 and those of the threaded sleeve S, are very much inclined to the axis of the shaft, and the coil spring t is constructed of sufiicient strength to keep the hollow shaft to the left, and teeth U and V engaged, in spite of. the tendency of the turning threaded sleeve S to act upon threads 8 and draw the hollow shaft toward the right. The effect of spring t permits the exertion of a turning force or impulse ordinarily enough to start the engine. But, let

it be assumed that extraordinary conditions arise, for example, that there is a backlire of the engine while the pawl M and ratchetwhcel m are engaged. The sleeve S will now be relatively stationary and the hollow shaft will turn backward, rotating flange P with respect to ratchet wheel m, compressing coil spring I? and moving ratchet wheel m toward the right until the pawl no longer engages its teeth, that is to ,say, until it reaches the position substantially as shown in Fig. 2. As the lip O of the pawl meets the annular inclined surface ;0 of the flange, the action of spring w presses those parts together andcompletes the movement of the flange P and the ratchet wheel or toward the right, at the same time effectively latching the flange against accidental movement toward the left. \Vh en the pawl engages the ratchet wheel the lip O of the pawl occupies the groove, 9 formed by the meeting of flange 1 and ratchet wheel at as explained.

The actittl form of the parts herein illustrated may be modified without departing from the purview of this invention.

Having now described this invention, and explained the mode of its operation, what 1 claim is 1. In an engine starter, the combination with a crank-carrying shaft, of an engine shaft, detachable connecting devices constructed and arranged to connect the said shafts, a curved cylinder constructed and arranged concentrically with the crank-carrying shaft, an elbow crank having a curved portion arranged in the cylinder, means crank within the cylinder, piping connected with the cylinder whereby fiuid may be admitted to operate the piston, and a spring having one end attached to said crank and arranged to hold the piston yieldingly within the cylinder. v

2. In ancngine starter, the combination with a crank-carrying shaft, of an engine shaft, detachable connecting devices constructed and arranged to connect said shafts, a curved cylinder constructed and arranged concentrically with said crank-carrying shaft, an elbow crank having a curved portion arranged within the cylinder, means movably attached to the crank, crank-carrying shaft and detachable connecting devices and constructed to connect the crank and. crank-carrying shaft when the said shafts are connected, a piston attached to the curved portion of the crank withinthe cyl-. inder, piping connected with the cylinder whereby fluid may be admitted to operate the piston, and a spring having one end connected with said crank and arranged to hold the piston yieldingly within the cylindcr.

In an engine starter, the combination with a crank-carrying shaft, of an engine shaft, detachable connecting devices constructed and arranged to connect the said shafts, a curved cylinder constructed and arranged concentrically with said crankcarrying shaft, an elbow crank having a curved portion arranged within the cylinder, a piston attached to the curved portion of the crank within the cylinder, a spring having one end connected with the crank and arranged to hold the piston yieldingly in the cylinder, a ratchet wheelconnected with said detachable connecting devices and with the crank-carrying shaft, a pawl attached to said crank and arranged to engage the ratchet wheel when said shafts are connected, a spring arranged to move the said detachable connecting devices and connect the said shafts, said pawl being constructed and arranged to latch said detach able connecting devices out of engagement and against the force of said spring, and meansarranged upon the crank-carrying shaft whereby said pawl may be operated.

4c. In an engine starter, the combination with a crank-carrying shaft, of an engine shaft, detachable connecting devices constructed and arranged to connect the said shafts, a curved cylinder constructed and arranged concentrically with the crank-carrying shaft, piping connected with the cylinder for serving fluid fuel thereto, an air valve arranged to admit air into the cylinder, an igniting device connected with said cylinder, an elbow crank having a curved portion arranged in the cylinder, a piston attached to the curved portion of the crank within the cylinder, means actuated by the movement of said detachable connecting devices and constructed to connect said crank and crank-carrying shaft, a spring having one end connected With the crank and arranged. to hold the piston yieldingly within the cylinder, and means constructed and ar- 10 ran ed to draw the piston outwardly agalnst the force of the said spring.

In'testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES HENRY FREEMAN. Witnesses:

Wm. Os'rEN, F. R. FISHER.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! ratentl,

Washington. D. C. 

